Key Things to Keep in Mind While Giving Feedback

Be Considerate of Time and Efforts

Generally, always be respectful of the time and work of your design team. This means being punctual for deadlines, not making last-minute changes, and being clear and concise in your communication.

It also means respecting their creative process, giving them the space to do their best work, and not micromanaging them. Trust that the designers know what they're doing and give them the freedom to do it.

Treat them with the same respect you would expect in any other business relationship. This is the best way to ensure a successful, productive, and enjoyable working relationship.

When Providing Feedback, Be Clear and Concise

When giving feedback, be clear and concise. Try to avoid giving vague or unspecific feedback. Instead, be specific about what you think needs to be improved.

Additionally, avoid giving criticism that is subjective or opinion-based. When providing feedback, provide examples so the designer can better understand what you're suggesting.

Be Aware of the Different Types of Feedback

There are two main types of feedback: substantive and constructive. Understanding the differences can improve communication and make projects go faster.

1. Substantive feedback is important because it can help designers improve their ideas. It can also help the design team better understand their end users' needs. This type of feedback helps to ensure that the design is focused on its core purpose.
2. Constructive feedback is the feedback that helps improve the design by pointing out specific problems and suggesting solutions.

 

Avoid Emotionally Based Feedback

When providing feedback, it is important to consider your emotional state. It is important to be unbiased when providing feedback. Don't let your own emotions get in the way of giving constructive criticism. This will help the designer to be more objective and provide the requested results.

For example, you could say: "I noticed that your button looks a bit too small on this page." I think it would look better if it were larger." It is also helpful to explain your reasoning behind your feedback. This will help the designer understand why you are making the suggestion and may lead to a better design solution.

Make Sure You Understand What the Design Is Supposed to Do and Look Like Before Offering Criticism

This will help you avoid making assumptions or attacking the design directly instead of focusing on issues that may need clarification or improvement.

You can try asking questions about the design to help you understand what was intended. For example, what do you think the design is supposed to achieve? Is there a specific message or purpose that you consider the design is trying to communicate? How would you improve this aspect of the design?

Once you understand the design goals, you can begin to critique them based on those objectives. For example, if the design is meant to be informative, you might suggest ways to make the information more accessible or concise. If the goal is to create a visually appealing and user-friendly interface, you might recommend changes that would improve readability or usability.

Avoid Using Words Like "Good" or "Bad" When Critiquing a Design

These words are often subjective and could lead to disagreements among team members about what is considered good or bad design work. Instead, use terms like "effective" or "inappropriate" when giving feedback about a design element.